New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Tuesday, when the first coronavirus vaccinations in the state are set to be administered, will be “momentous” and “a day for hope and optimism.” But, he warned Monday during a public briefing, that shouldn’t allow residents to become complacent.
“We are also in for several hard months, especially the next 6-8 weeks. As vaccinations move forward, we will be facing stiff headwinds into this second wave,” he said.
Murphy announced Sunday that the first doses of Pfizer’s new vaccine would go to health care workers at University Hospital in Newark on Tuesday. He said the state’s first allotment of 76,000 would be split between health care workers and long-term care facility residents and staff over the next few weeks.
As of Monday, more than 15,883 people in the state had died of COVID-19, with 4,170 new cases reported. The state has reported more than